Protective louver assembly for air-moving assembly

ABSTRACT

Apparatuses and methods are provided for blocking removal of an air-moving assembly from a housing when in operational state. The apparatus includes a protective louver assembly having a louver(s) and an interlock element(s). The louver(s) is disposed at an air inlet or an air outlet of the air-moving assembly, and pivots between an operational and a quiesced orientation, dependent on presence or absence, respectively, of airflow through the air-moving assembly. The interlock element(s) is associated with the louver(s) to pivot with the louver(s) between the operational orientation and the quiesced orientation. In the operational orientation, the interlock element(s) blocks, at least in part, access to at least one fastener securing the air-moving assembly within the housing, and thereby prevents removal of the air-moving assembly from the chassis when in the operational state.

BACKGROUND

In many server applications, processors along with their associatedelectronics (e.g., memory, disk drives, power supplies, etc.) arepackaged in removable drawer or subsystem configurations stacked withinan electronics rack or frame comprising information technology (IT)equipment. In other cases, the electronics may be in fixed locationswithin the rack or frame. As circuit densities continue to increase atall levels of packaging, there is an ever-growing need for providingcontinuous cooling to the electronics rack, including the electronicsubsystems thereof. As one solution, a cooling apparatus may be providedwhich includes one or more air-moving assemblies (e.g., axial fans orcentrifugal fans) which facilitate moving an airflow through theelectronics rack, usually front-to-back.

In certain implementations, multiple air-moving assemblies may beprovided in association with a drawer or electronics subsystem in orderthat the assemblies may be concurrently maintainable, such that if onefails, the failure does not stop airflow through the electronicssubsystem, and thus negatively affect operational availability ofcomputing resources to the customer. In the event that an operatingair-moving assembly is mistakenly removed, the fan or impeller wheel maybe spinning at a high speed, for instance, at 4000 RPMs or above, andhave significant momentum, due to the mass of the fan or impeller. Thisaction could potentially result in injury to the operator removing theair-moving assembly.

SUMMARY

The shortcomings of the prior art are overcome and additional advantagesare provided through the provision, in one aspect, of an apparatus whichincludes a protective louver assembly. The protective louver assemblyincludes at least one louver, and at least one interlock element. The atleast one louver is disposed at one of an air inlet or an air outlet ofan air-moving assembly. The air-moving assembly is removable when in anon-operational state from a housing within which the air-movingassembly resides when in an operational state, and the louver(s) pivotsbetween an operational orientation and a quiesced orientation, dependenton presence or absence, respectively, of airflow through the air-movingassembly. The at least one interlock element is associated with the atleast one louver to pivot with the at least one louver between theoperational orientation and the quiesced orientation. The at least oneinterlock element blocks, at least in part, access in the operationalorientation to at least one fastener securing the air-moving assemblywithin the housing.

In another aspect, an apparatus is provided which includes an air-movingassembly and a protective louver assembly. The air-moving assembly isremovable from a housing within which the air-moving assembly resideswhen in an operational state, and the protective louver assemblyincludes at least one louver, and at least one interlock element. The atleast one louver is disposed at one of an air inlet or an air outlet ofthe air-moving assembly, and the louver(s) pivots between an operationalorientation and a quiesced orientation, dependent on presence orabsence, respectively, of airflow through the air-moving assembly. Theat least one interlock element is associated with the at least onelouver to pivot with the at least one louver between the operationalorientation and the quiesced orientation. The at least one interlockelement blocks, at least in part, access in the operational orientationto the at least one fastener securing the air-moving assembly within thehousing.

In a further aspect, a method is provided, which includes: associating aprotective louver assembly with an air-moving assembly, the air-movingassembly residing within a housing when in operational state and beingremovable from the housing when in a non-operational state. Theprotective louver assembly includes: at least one louver disposed at oneof an air inlet or an air outlet of the air-moving assembly, the atleast one louver pivoting between an operational orientation and aquiesced orientation, dependent on presence or absence, respectively, ofairflow through the air-moving assembly; and at least one interlockelement associated with the at least one louver to pivot with the atleast one louver between the operational orientation and the quiescedorientation, the at least one interlock element blocking, at least inpart, access in the operational orientation to at least one fastenersecuring the air-moving assembly within the housing.

Additional features and advantages are realized through the techniquesof the present invention. Other embodiments and aspects of the inventionare described in detail herein and are considered a part of the claimedinvention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

One or more aspects of the present invention are particularly pointedout and distinctly claimed as examples in the claims at the conclusionof the specification. The foregoing and other objects, features, andadvantages of the invention are apparent from the following detaileddescription taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings inwhich:

FIG. 1 is an elevational depiction of one embodiment of an electronicsrack to incorporate therein one or more apparatuses, in accordance withone or more aspects of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of one embodiment of an electronic subsystemlayout illustrating multiple air-moving assemblies at an air inlet sideof the electronic subsystem, which may incorporate one or moreapparatuses, in accordance with one or more aspects of the presentinvention;

FIG. 3A depicts one embodiment of a chassis with multiple air-movingassemblies disposed at an air outlet side thereof, which may incorporateone or more apparatuses, in accordance with one or more aspects of thepresent invention;

FIG. 3B depicts one embodiment of an air-moving assembly of FIG. 3A,shown removed from the chassis;

FIG. 4A depicts one embodiment of an apparatus comprising an air-movingassembly and a protective louver assembly, in accordance with one ormore aspects of the present invention;

FIG. 4B is a partial cross-sectional side view of the apparatus of FIG.4A, showing the blocking operation of the interlock element(s) in theoperational orientation of the associated louver(s), in accordance withone or more aspects of the present invention;

FIG. 4C depicts the apparatus of FIGS. 4A & 4B, with the louver(s) shownin operational orientation, and the protective shroud exploded from theapparatus, to illustrate the blocking operation of the interlockelement(s), in accordance with one or more aspects of the presentinvention;

FIG. 4D depicts the apparatus of FIGS. 4A-4C, with the cover and outergrating exploded from the apparatus to illustrate one embodiment of thelouvers and interlock elements of the protective louver assembly, inaccordance with one or more aspects of the present invention;

FIG. 4E depicts one embodiment of a segmented, main louver defining arow of differently-sized louvers, with the smaller louvers having theinterlock elements of the protective louver assembly of FIGS. 4A-4D, inaccordance with one or more aspects of the present invention;

FIG. 5A is a front elevational depiction of the apparatus of FIGS.4A-4E, with the louvers shown in the quiesced orientation, and thecorresponding interlock elements oriented in a direction which allowsaccess through respective access openings to the fasteners securing theair-moving assembly within the chassis, in accordance with one or moreaspects of the present invention;

FIG. 5B is a partial cross-sectional side view of the apparatus of FIG.5A, showing the interlock elements in the quiesced orientation of theassociated louver(s), in accordance with one or more aspects of thepresent invention; and

FIG. 6 depicts one embodiment of two air-moving and protective louverassemblies disposed side-by-side within a chassis, with one air-movingassembly shown in operational state, and the other air-moving assemblyshown in quiesced state, in accordance with one or more aspects of thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As used herein, the term “electronics rack” refers to any housing,frame, rack, compartment, blade server system, etc., having one or moreheat-generating components of a computer system, electronic system, orinformation technology (IT) equipment, and may include, for example, astand-alone computer processing system having high, mid, or low-endprocessing capability. In one embodiment, an electronics rack mayinclude one or more electronic subsystems, for example, in one or moreservers, sub-housings, blades, drawers, nodes, compartments, boards,etc., having one or more heat-generating electronic components disposedtherein or thereon. An electronic system or subsystem may be removableor fixed, for example, relative to an electronics rack, withrack-mounted electronic drawers of an electronics rack and blades of ablade-center system being two examples of electronic systems orsubsystems of an electronics rack to be cooled. As noted, in oneembodiment, an electronic system/subsystem may include, or be, a serverunit. Further, as used herein, the term “chassis” or “electronicschassis” refers to any housing, container, frame, rack, compartment,etc., and may be, in one embodiment, an electronics rack, or anelectronic subsystem chassis which resides within the electronics rack.

Reference is made below to the drawings, where the same referencenumbers used throughout different figures designate the same or similarcomponents.

FIG. 1 depicts (by way of example) one embodiment of an electronics rack100 with a plurality of electronic subsystems 101 to be cooled. In theembodiment illustrated, electronic subsystems 101 are air-cooled by coolairflow 102 ingressing via an air inlet 110, and exhausting out an airoutlet 111 as hot airflow 103. One or more air-moving assemblies 108 areprovided at the air inlet sides of electronic subsystems 101 and/or oneor more air-moving assemblies 109 are provided at the air outlet sidesof electronic subsystems 101 to facilitate airflow through theindividual subsystems 101 as part of the cooling apparatus ofelectronics rack 100. By way of example, air-moving assemblies 108 atthe air inlets to electronic subsystems 101 may be or include axial fanassemblies, and air-moving assemblies 109 disposed at the air outlets ofelectronic subsystems 101 may be or include centrifugal fan assemblies.One or more of electronic subsystems 101 may include heat-generatingcomponents to be cooled of a computer system, electronics system, orinformation technology (IT) equipment. For instance, one or more of theelectronic subsystems 101 may include one or more processors andassociated memory.

Electronics rack 100 may also include, by way of example only, one ormore bulk power assemblies 104 of an AC to DC power supply assembly. ACto DC power supply assembly further includes, in one embodiment, a framecontroller, which may be resident in the bulk power assembly 104 and/orin one or more electronic subsystems 101. Also illustrated in FIG. 1 isone or more input/output (I/O) drawer(s) 105, which may also include aswitch network. I/O drawer(s) 105 may include, as one example, PCI slotsand disk drivers for the electronics rack.

In implementation, a three-phase AC source feeds power via an AC powersupply line cord 106 to bulk power assembly 104, which transforms thesupplied AC power to an appropriate DC power level for output viadistribution cable 107 to the plurality of electronic subsystems 101 andI/O drawer(s) 105. The number of electronic subsystems installed in theelectronics rack is variable, and depends on customer requirements for aparticular system. Further, although described with reference tomultiple electronic subsystems 101, the air-moving assemblies discussedherein could reside within, for instance, bulk power assembly 104, orI/O drawer(s) 105. Again, the particular electronics rack configurationof FIG. 1 is presented by way of example only, and not by way oflimitation.

FIG. 2 depicts one embodiment of an electronic subsystem 101 layoutbeing air-cooled utilizing one air-cooling approach, where one or moreair-moving assemblies 205 provide forced airflow 215 in operationalstate to cool multiple electronic components 210 within electronicsubsystem 101. Cool air is taken in through an air inlet 201 and heatedair is exhausted out an air outlet 202 of the electronic subsystem. Themultiple components 210 to be cooled may include, by way of example,multiple processor modules 212, as well as multiple arrays of memorymodules 213 (e.g., dual-in-line memory modules (DIMMs)) and multiplerows of memory support modules 214 (e.g., DIMM control modules). In oneimplementation, air-cooled heat sinks (not shown) may be coupled to oneor more of processor modules 212, memory modules 213, and/or memorysupport modules 214 to facilitate dissipation of heat therefrom.

In the depicted example of FIG. 2, the air-moving assemblies 205, aswell as the electronic components, reside within a chassis 200containing or supporting the electronic subsystem. Also, as depicted,the air-moving assemblies 205 disposed at the air inlet side 201 of theelectronic subsystem may be redundant fan assemblies, which concurrentlyprovide the cooling airflow 215 across or through the electroniccomponents of the electronic subsystem.

FIG. 3A partially depicts an alternate embodiment of an electronicsubsystem layout which includes a chassis 300, and redundant air-movingassemblies 310 disposed at an air outlet side 302 of the electronicsubsystem, with the air inlet side 301 being, by way of example, at anopposite side of chassis 300. As illustrated in FIG. 3A, assuming thatthe left air-moving assembly 310 is in a quiesced state, for instance,has been turned off or has failed, then a portion of air egressing fromthe operating, right air-moving assembly 310 can re-circulate 315through the left air-moving assembly 310, and be drawn back into theright air-moving assembly 310, potentially significantly reducing theamount of airflow through chassis 300, and thus potentially the coolingof the electronic components of the electronic subsystem.

FIG. 3B depicts one embodiment of air-moving assembly 310 of FIG. 3A. Inthis embodiment, air-moving assembly 310 is depicted as a centrifugalfan assembly with a relatively large air inlet opening 311 in a lowersurface thereof, exposing the centrifugal blower 313, and an air outlet312, which may have a grating 305 as a safety feature. As noted above,in many systems today, air-moving assemblies may be designed to beconcurrently maintainable, so that one assembly entering into a quiescedstate does not significantly impact system cooling, and thus operationalavailability of computing resources to a customer. In the event that anoperating air-moving assembly 310 is mistakenly removed, the fan orimpeller wheel may be spinning at a high speed, and has significantmomentum due to its mass. This mistake could result in injury to theoperator removing the assembly, particularly in a centrifugal fan designsuch as illustrated in FIG. 3B, where there is a relatively large airinlet 311 within the assembly.

One possible solution to the issue is to provide a grill with openingssmaller than an operator's fingers at the air assembly's inlet. However,this could significantly impede airflow through the assembly. Analternate approach is to disallow redundancy for concurrentreplaceability, which is undesirable, since a customer could experiencea computing outage due to a single air-moving assembly transitioning toquiesced state, for instance, due to a failure.

As a solution, disclosed herein are apparatuses and methods whichaddress the above-noted drawbacks to existing concurrently-maintainable,air-moving assemblies. The apparatuses may include, for instance, aprotective louver assembly. The protective louver assembly includes atleast one louver, and at least one interlock element, such as aninterlock tab. The at least one louver is disposed at one of an airinlet or an air outlet of an air-moving assembly, where the air-movingassembly is removable from a chassis within which the air-movingassembly resides when in an operational state. The louver(s) pivotsbetween an operational orientation and a quiesced orientation, dependenton presence or absence, respectively, of airflow through the air-movingassembly. The at least one interlock element is associated with the atleast one louver to pivot with the at least one louver between theoperational orientation and the quiesced orientation. The at least oneinterlock element blocks, at least in part, access in the operationalorientation to at least one fastener securing the air-moving assemblywithin the chassis.

In certain implementations, one interlock element of the at least oneinterlock element is attached to and projects at an angle from the onelouver of the at least one louver to block, at least in part, access tothe at least one fastener in the operational orientation of the onelouver. For instance, the one interlock element of the at least oneinterlock element may extend substantially 90° from the one louver. Insuch an implementation, the one louver may be substantially horizontalwhen in the operational orientation, and the one interlock element mayproject therefrom substantially vertically.

In one implementation, a protective shroud at least partially enclosesthe at least one fastener. The protective shroud includes at least oneaccess opening allowing access to the enclosed fastener(s), and theinterlock element(s) extends in the operational orientation into an atleast partially enclosed region defined by the protective shroud. The atleast one interlock element blocks access to the at least one fastenerthrough the at least one access opening within the shroud in theoperational orientation of the at least one louver. By way of example,the one louver is substantially horizontal in the operationalorientation, and the one interlock element projects upwards therefrom ina substantially vertical direction in the operational orientation of theone louver. The vertically projecting at least one interlock elementextends, in one embodiment, between the at least one access opening ofthe protective shroud and the at least one fastener.

In certain implementations, the protective louver assembly comprisesmultiple louvers disposed at one of the air inlet or air outlet of theair-moving assembly, wherein the multiple louvers include the at leastone louver. Each louver of the multiple louvers may pivot or hingebetween the operational orientation and the quiesced orientation,dependent on presence or absence, respectively, of airflow through theair-moving assembly. In one implementation, one louver of the multiplelouvers is sized smaller than another louver of the multiple louvers,with the one louver including one interlock element of the at least oneinterlock element. For instance, the one louver may be sized smallerthan another louver to remain in the operational orientation longer thanthe another louver during a transition of the multiple louvers from theoperational orientation to the quiesced orientation due to a decreasingairflow through the air-moving assembly. In one example, the one louvermay be half the size, or less, of the another louver of the multiplelouvers.

The at least one louver and at least one interlock element of theprotective louver assembly may be disposed at either the air inlet orthe air outlet of the air-moving assembly, for instance, dependent onthe type of air-moving assembly, that is, whether the assembly includesan axial fan or a centrifugal fan configuration. In one embodiment, theair-moving assembly is a centrifugal fan, and the protective louverassembly is disposed at the air outlet of the air-moving assembly.

Advantageously, the louvers of the protective louver assembly operate asanti-recirculation louvers when the air-moving assembly is in quiescedorientation. Further, the interlock element(s) of the protective louverassembly prevent or inhibit removal of the air-moving assembly from thechassis while there is still sufficient airflow through the air-movingassembly to prevent the respective louver(s) from obtaining the quiescedorientation. This advantageously prevents removal of the air-movingassembly from the chassis until the rotor of the assembly is below asafe operational speed.

The interlock element(s) (e.g., tabs) associated with the one or morelouvers of the protective louver assembly may extend from the louverassembly in any desired location in order to project therefrom in theoperational orientation into a region adjacent to the air-movingassembly which will block or inhibit access to the one or more fastenerssecuring the air-moving assembly in the chassis. In certain embodiments,a protective shroud is provided enclosing the one or more fasteners andlimiting access to the fasteners, except through one or more accessopenings in the shroud. In this configuration, the interlock element(s)may extend at least partially into an at least partially enclosed regiondefined by the shroud and block an operator's access to the fastener(s)through the access opening(s). Further, depending on the implementation,one or more louvers of the multiple louvers may be sized smaller thanone or more other louvers of the multiple louvers, with the interlockelement(s) projecting from one or more of the smaller louvers. By sizingcertain louvers smaller than others, the smaller louvers will remainopen longer during transition of the multiple louvers from anoperational orientation to a quiesced orientation due to a decreasingairflow through the air-moving assembly. This ensures that the interlockelement(s) continues to block access to the fastener(s) until theairflow through the air-moving assembly is decreased to a safe level.

In one implementation, an upper louver of a multiple louver assembly maybe segmented into multiple smaller louvers with, for instance, one ormore smaller louvers containing interlock elements or tabs which aredesigned to project in front of respective fasteners securing theair-moving assembly within the chassis when the louvers are inoperational orientation.

FIGS. 4A-5B described below depict a centrifugal fan assembly with acentrifugal fan rotor and housing, and a protective louver assemblycomprising a plurality of louvers configured as elongated flaps with apivot that hinges at one elongate edge, such that the weight of thelouvers results in a substantially vertical orientation of each louverin the absence of a force from air pressure induced by the centrifugalfan rotor in a quiesced state, and when airflow from the centrifugal fanexerts pressure on the louvers, the weight of the louvers is overcomeand the louvers are in a substantially horizontal, operationalorientation, indicative of an operational state of the air-movingassembly.

Advantageously, one or more of the louvers includes an interlock elementwhich is located and sized to project in front of a respective fastenersecuring the air-moving assembly to the chassis, to block access to thefastener when the air-moving assembly is in the operational state. As anenhancement, a protective shroud could be provided covering thefasteners and providing an enclosed region within which the interlockelement(s) extend when the louvers are in operational orientation.

As noted, in certain implementations, one or more louvers may befabricated smaller than one or more other louvers of the protectivelouver assembly so as to stay in the operational orientation longer.Alternatively, one of the louvers may be segmented into smaller louvers,with the smaller louvers referred to as control flap louvers, and theother remaining louvers referred to as anti-recirculation louvers. Whentransitioning from operational state to a quiesced state of theair-moving assembly, the centrifugal fan slows from an operational speed(of, for instance, 4000 RPMs), to eventually a stopped or quiescedposition. During this transition, after the power is removed from thecentrifugal fan rotor, as the speed of the rotor decreases, eventuallythe weight of the recirculation louvers overcomes the pressure exertedby the airflow, and the louvers fall to the vertical orientation,corresponding to the quiesced state of the air-moving assembly. At thistime, the control flap louvers will continue to remain open due to theirmuch smaller size and weight compared with the recirculation louvers.Once the anti-recirculation flaps close, the velocity, and therefore themomentum, of the airflow across the remaining control flap louvers, isincreased, extending the amount of time required between de-energizingthe rotor, and realizing the quiesced state, where all louvers are insubstantially vertical orientation. The smaller control flap louversinclude the interlock elements which project, in one embodiment, intothe enclosed region defined by the shroud, to block access to thefasteners, through respective access openings in the shroud. Thisensures that the smaller control flap louvers must also transition tothe quiesced state, prior to an operator gaining access to the fastenersto remove the air-moving assembly from the chassis, thereby ensuringthat the operator will not inadvertently remove an assembly with a rotorspinning at an unsafe speed.

FIGS. 4A-4E depict one embodiment of an apparatus 400, in accordancewith one or more aspects of the present invention. Referringcollectively to these figures, apparatus 400 includes an air-movingassembly 401, such as air-moving assembly 310 described above inconnection with FIG. 3B, and a protective louver assembly 410, whichincludes in the depicted embodiment multiple louvers 411 and one or moreinterlock elements 415. In this embodiment, the air-moving assembly 401is implemented as a centrifugal fan 407, which may be disposed, forinstance, at the air outlet side of an electronic subsystem, such aswithin one of the electronic subsystems 101 described above inconnection with FIG. 1. As noted, in this configuration, air is drawn inthrough an air inlet in a lower surface of the air-moving assembly andexpelled through an air outlet 402, which may include a protective gridor grating 405.

Although depicted herein with multiple louvers 411, the protectivelouver assembly 410 could include one or more louvers, as desired for aparticular configuration. Louvers 411 are illustrated in FIGS. 4A-4E inan operational orientation (which in this implementation issubstantially horizontal) that assumes air-moving assembly 401 is in anoperational state. In particular, in the operational orientationdepicted in FIGS. 4A-4E, the centrifugal fan rotor is assumed to bespinning at an operational speed sufficient to impel an airflow throughlouvers 411 at a speed which overcomes the weight of the louvers actingon the louver-hinge axis 413 such that the louvers are maintainedsubstantially horizontal, as depicted in the figures. Should theair-moving assembly be turned off, or fault, and thereby enter aquiesced state where there is little or no airflow moving through theassembly 401, then the louvers 411 drop to a quiesced orientation, wherethe louvers are substantially vertical, advantageously preventing anyrecirculation of air back through the quiesced air-moving assembly. Notethat in an alternate implementation, where the air-moving assembly isdisposed at the air inlet side of an electronic subsystem, the hingedlouvers may pivot inwardly when transitioning from, for instance, aquiesced orientation to an operational orientation.

As shown in FIGS. 4B-4E, one or more of the louvers 411′ includes aninterlock element 415 projecting therefrom, for instance, at a 90°angle, as illustrated in FIGS. 4B & 4E. In the embodiment depicted,interlock elements or tabs 415 project from respective, smaller (controlflap) louvers 411′ formed by segmenting a main louver 411 into thesmaller louvers 411′ and a central (anti-recirculation) louver 412, asillustrated in FIG. 4E. Interlock elements 415 project from therespective louvers near the louver hinge axis 413 in the embodimentillustrated. As noted, by making control flap louvers 411′ with theinterlock elements 415 smaller than anti-recirculation louvers 411, 412,then louvers 411′ are maintained in the substantially horizontal,operational orientation longer as the air-moving assembly transitionsfrom operational state to quiesced state, which as explained, providesadditional safety to an operator attempting to gain access to thefasteners to remove the air-moving assembly from the chassis. Asillustrated in FIGS. 4B & 4C, the interlock elements 415 extend into anat least partially enclosed region defined by protective shroud 420 toblock access to fasteners 403 securing air-moving assembly 401 withinthe chassis (not shown) when the louvers are in an operationalorientation. In the embodiment depicted, protective shroud 420 includesaccess openings 421 aligned to allow an operator access to fasteners403, and the interlock elements are sized and positioned to extend intothe at least partially enclosed region between the fasteners 403 andaccess openings 421 when in operational orientation, blocking access tothe fasteners, as illustrated in FIG. 4C.

As shown in FIG. 4E, in one embodiment, a common louver hinge axis 413is provided for the segmented louver depicted, which may be disposed asthe upper-most louver of the multiple louvers at the air inlet or airoutlet side of the air-moving assembly 401. For balanced pivoting, theinterlock elements 415 are located at or adjacent to the louver hingeaxis 413 of the smaller louvers 411′. In the embodiment illustrated, theinterlock elements extend at a substantially 90° angle from the smallerlouvers 411′. However, this is provided by way of example only.Similarly, the illustrated shape of interlock elements 415 is providedas one example only, with other configurations being possible toaccomplish the functions described herein. Also, although illustrated inFIGS. 4A-4E as including two interlock elements (or tabs), theprotective louver assembly could utilize a single interlock element, ormore than two interlock elements, depending (for instance) on the numberand location of assembly fasteners of a particular implementation.

As illustrated in FIGS. 4C & 4D, openings 404 are provided in the coverof the air-moving assembly 401 embodiment depicted to allow interlockelements 415 to project in front of fasteners 403 when the louvers 411′are in operational orientation. In the operational orientation of thesmaller louvers, the interlock elements 415 are in a first direction,which is substantially orthogonal to the operational orientation of thelouvers 411, 412, 411′. That is, in the embodiment depicted, the firstdirection of interlock elements 415 is substantially vertical.

FIGS. 5A & 5B depict the apparatus of FIGS. 4A-4E, with the louvers 411,411′, 412 shown in quiesced orientation, that is, substantiallyvertical, to close off the air outlet side of the air-moving assembly.As illustrated in FIGS. 5A & 5B, with the louvers 411′ in quiescedorientation, the interlock elements 415, which (in one embodiment) areoriented orthogonal to the louvers, are substantially horizontal, asshown. In this orientation, the interlock elements 415 drop away fromthe enclosed region defined by protective enclosure 420, and thus allowaccess through access openings 421 to fasteners 403 using an appropriatetool 500.

FIG. 6 depicts the electronic subsystem chassis 300 of FIG. 3, with theapparatus 400 of FIGS. 4A-5B. In this depiction, the left-mostair-moving assembly is assumed to be operational, with airflow 315′egressing across the respective louvers 411 in operational orientation,and the right-most air-moving assembly is assumed to be in quiescedstate, with the louvers 411 of that apparatus shown in quiescedorientation, substantially vertical, thereby blocking any recirculationof egressing airflow 315′ back into chassis 300, through the quiescedair-moving assembly. Thus, the protective louver assembly, in additionto providing the above-described facility for preventing removal of theair-moving assembly when airflow is passing through the assembly, alsoprevents recirculation of egressing airflow from one assembly back intothe chassis through a quiesced assembly.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. Asused herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended toinclude the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicatesotherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprise” (andany form of comprise, such as “comprises” and “comprising”), “have” (andany form of have, such as “has” and “having”), “include” (and any formof include, such as “includes” and “including”), and “contain” (and anyform contain, such as “contains” and “containing”) are open-endedlinking verbs. As a result, a method or device that “comprises”, “has”,“includes” or “contains” one or more steps or elements possesses thoseone or more steps or elements, but is not limited to possessing onlythose one or more steps or elements. Likewise, a step of a method or anelement of a device that “comprises”, “has”, “includes” or “contains”one or more features possesses those one or more features, but is notlimited to possessing only those one or more features. Furthermore, adevice or structure that is configured in a certain way is configured inat least that way, but may also be configured in ways that are notlisted.

The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of allmeans or step plus function elements in the claims below, if any, areintended to include any structure, material, or act for performing thefunction in combination with other claimed elements as specificallyclaimed. The description of the present invention has been presented forpurposes of illustration and description, but is not intended to beexhaustive or limited to the invention in the form disclosed. Manymodifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skillin the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain theprinciples of one or more aspects of the invention and the practicalapplication, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art tounderstand one or more aspects of the invention for various embodimentswith various modifications as are suited to the particular usecontemplated.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus comprising: a protective louverassembly of an air-moving assembly, the protective louver assemblycomprising: at least one louver disposed within the air-moving assemblyat one of an air inlet or an air outlet of the air-moving assembly, theair-moving assembly being removable when in a non-operational state froma housing within which the air-moving assembly resides when in anoperational state, and being secured within the housing via at least onefastener, and the at least one louver pivoting between an operationalorientation and a quiesced orientation, dependent on presence orabsence, respectively, of airflow through the air-moving assembly; andat least one interlock element extending away from a longitudinal axisof the at least one louver and pivoting with the at least one louverbetween the operational orientation and the quiesced orientation,wherein the longitudinal axis of the at least one louver is offset fromthe at least one fastener securing the air-moving assembly within thehousing, and an interlock element of the at least one interlock elementbiasing a louver of the at least one louver towards the quiescedorientation and being sized and positioned to project in front of andcover a fastener head of the at least one fastener securing theair-moving assembly within the housing to block access in theoperational state to the fastener head and thereby prevent removal ofthe air-moving assembly from the housing in the operational state. 2.The apparatus of claim 1, wherein one interlock element of the at leastone interlock element is integrated with and projecting at an angle fromone louver of the at least one louver to block access to one fastener ofthe at least one fastener securing the air-moving assembly within thehousing in the operational orientation.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2,wherein the one interlock element of the at least one interlock elementprojects at a substantially 90° angle from the one louver of the atleast one louver.
 4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the one louver issubstantially horizontal when in the operational orientation, and theone interlock element projecting therefrom is substantially vertical inthe operational orientation.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein theair-moving assembly includes a protective shroud enclosing, at least inpart, the at least one fastener, the protective shroud including atleast one access opening allowing access to the at least one fastener,and the at least one interlock element extending into an at leastpartially enclosed region defined by the protective shroud when in theoperational orientation.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the atleast one interlock element blocks access to the at least one fastenerthrough the at least one access opening in the protective shroud in theoperational orientation.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein theprotective louver assembly comprises multiple louvers disposed at theone of the air inlet or the air outlet of the air-moving assembly, themultiple louvers including the at least one louver, and each pivotingbetween the operational orientation and the quiesced orientation,dependent on presence or absence, respectively, of airflow through theair-moving assembly, and wherein one louver of the multiple louvers issized smaller than another louver of the multiple louvers, the onelouver including one interlock element of the at least one interlockelement.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the one louver smallerthan the another louver remains in the operational orientation longerthan the another louver during a transition of the multiple louvers fromthe operational orientation to the quiesced orientation due to adecreasing airflow through the air-moving assembly.
 9. The apparatus ofclaim 8, wherein the one louver is half the size, or less, of theanother louver of the multiple louvers.
 10. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein the air-moving assembly comprises a centrifugal fan, and the atleast one louver is hingedly coupled to the air-moving assembly at theair outlet thereof.
 11. An apparatus comprising: an air-moving assemblyresiding within a housing when in an operational state, the air-movingassembly being removable from the housing when in a non-operationalstate and being secured within the housing in the operational state viaat least one fastener; and the air-moving assembly comprising aprotective louver assembly, the protective louver assembly comprising:at least one louver disposed at one of an air inlet or an air outlet ofthe air-moving assembly, the at least one louver pivoting between anoperational orientation and a quiesced orientation, dependent onpresence or absence, respectively, of airflow through the air-movingassembly; and at least one interlock element extending away from alongitudinal axis of the at least one louver and pivoting with the atleast one louver between the operational orientation and the quiescedorientation, wherein the longitudinal axis of the at least one louver isoffset from the at least one fastener securing the air-moving assemblywithin the housing, and an interlock element of the at least oneinterlock element biasing a louver of the at least one louver towardsthe quiesced orientation and being sized and positioned to project infront of and cover a fastener head of the at least one fastener securingthe air-moving assembly within the housing to block access in theoperational state to the fastener head and thereby prevent removal ofthe air-moving assembly from the housing in the operational state. 12.The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the housing further comprises one ormore electronic components to be cooled, at least in part, by theairflow through the air-moving assembly when in the operational state.13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein one interlock element of the atleast one interlock element is integrated with and projecting at anangle from one louver of the at least one louver to block access to theat least one fastener securing the air-moving assembly within thehousing in the operational orientation.
 14. The apparatus of claim 13,wherein the one louver is substantially horizontal when in theoperational orientation, and the one interlock element projectingtherefrom is substantially vertical in the operational orientation. 15.The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the air-moving assembly furthercomprises a protective shroud enclosing, at least in part, the at leastone fastener, the protective shroud including at least one accessopening allowing access to the at least one fastener, and the at leastone interlock element extending into an at least partially enclosedregion defined by the shroud when in the operational orientation. 16.The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the at least one interlock elementblocks access to the at least one fastener through the at least oneaccess opening in the protective shroud in the operational orientation.17. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the protective louver assemblycomprises multiple louvers disposed at the one of the air inlet or theair outlet of the air-moving assembly, the multiple louvers includingthe at least one louver, and each pivoting between the operationalorientation and the quiesced orientation, dependent on presence orabsence, respectively, of airflow through the air-moving assembly, andwherein one louver of the multiple louvers is sized smaller than anotherlouver of the multiple louvers, the one louver including one interlockelement of the at least one interlock element.
 18. The apparatus ofclaim 17, wherein the one louver smaller than the another louver remainsin the operational orientation longer than the another louver during atransition of the multiple louvers from the operational orientation tothe quiesced orientation due to a decreasing airflow through theair-moving assembly.
 19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the onelouver is half the size, or less, of the another louver of the multiplelouvers.
 20. A method comprising: providing a protective louver assemblyintegrated with an air-moving assembly, the air-moving assembly residingwithin a housing when in operational state and being removable from thehousing when in a non-operational state, and the air-moving assemblybeing secured within the housing in the operational state via at leastone fastener, the protective louver assembly comprising: at least onelouver disposed at one of an air-inlet or an air-outlet of theair-moving assembly, the at least one louver pivoting between anoperational orientation and a quiesced orientation, dependent onpresence or absence, respectively, of airflow through the air-movingassembly; and at least one interlock element extending away from alongitudinal axis of the at least one louver and pivoting with the atleast one louver between the operational orientation and the quiescedorientation, wherein the longitudinal axis of the at least one louver isoffset from the at least one fastener securing the air-moving assemblywithin the housing, and an interlock element of the at least oneinterlock element biasing a louver of the at least one louver towardsthe quiesced orientation and being sized and positioned to project infront of and cover a fastener head of the at least one fastener securingthe air-moving assembly within the housing to block access in theoperational state to the fastener head and thereby prevent removal ofthe air-moving assembly from the housing in the operational state.